Anderson Silva’s Camp Want GSP, Franklin, Or Diaz

The UFC has a big problem on their hands. The UFC has a champion that only wants to fight marquee fighters as opposed to the “amateurs.” Anderson Silva’s camp doesn’t care what your record is. If you aren’t a name, go to the back of the line.

While the UFC middleweight champion doesn’t do much speaking, his managers Ed Soares and Jorge Guimaraes do plenty. Both managers (because when you are that good, you need more than one) recently talked to the press about potential upcoming fights for their champion and let’s just say they aren’t nearly as excited about a Chris Weidman vs. Anderson Silva fight as you are.

Silva’s co-manager Guimaraes was the first to make headlines last week when he was asked about Silva’s next opponent.

“No opponent makes sense for Anderson at this moment. Unless we do a catchweight against Georges St-Pierre,” said Silva’s co-manager to Tatame.com. “They (the UFC) didn’t offer the fight, but he’s the only one that could do a super fight. Anderson has the biggest paycheck in the UFC, and you can’t promote an event with these amateur kids that are coming up now.”

Yep, that is right. Silva’s management team is referring to the growing list of potential middleweight title challengers as “amateurs”. “That’s a big joke,” Guimaraes said. “Everybody saw that it worked for Chael, and he got really famous with that, and now everybody wants to be in the spotlight.”

The more level headed manager, Ed Soares was a little more tactful in his response to the same question to MMAJunkie.com.

“I don’t think any opponent in that category is a joke,” Soares said. “I just think that some of his opponents just aren’t as attractive. When I look at Weidman, I think he’s a very talented guy. He’s got a bright future. But when I look at it, he’s 9-0. Anderson has got double the wins he has in his career in the UFC. So I just don’t see the value of being able to fight a guy like this right now. That’s my opinion.”

Soares reiterated the champion’s desire to fight Georges St-Pierre but also mentioned a familiar name. Soares said that Silva would be interested in a third fight with Rich Franklin. You know, the same Rich Franklin Silva brutalized on two different occasions.

A new potential super fight recently emerged when Nick Diaz’s camp challenged Anderson to a super fight. Soares was very receptive to the challenge on Twitter.

“I think the idea of @SpiderAnderson vs @nickdiaz209 is pretty good. Let’s see what the @ufc thinks?” – @edblackhouse

There is something very obnoxious about these statements coming from Silva’s camp. These people sit around complaining about amateurs and lack of competition, while calling out or being open to fights with fighters that either Silva would undoubtedly destroy or have big weight disadvantages against their fighter. It is one thing to complain about lack of competition or insult other fighters, but it is a whole other story when you do this while ducking the obvious choice…Jon Jones.

Anderson has outright refused to fight Jon Jones. I don’t think anyone reading this blog could disagree that Jones would give Silva his biggest test in MMA. Additionally, Silva has already fought at light heavyweight and is undefeated in UFC’s division. This isn’t a case of GSP or Diaz moving up in weight or anyone being at a weight disadvantage. This is a fight that would pit arguably the two best in the sport against each other with all odds being even. Yet Silva’s camp refuses to even consider the fight, while complaining about a lack of competition?

Whether Silva’s team think that the crop of challengers are amateurs or not, is irrelevant as long as their client holds the title. Silva needs to defend against the top contenders as deemed by the UFC. I can understand Silva wanting to get the most money for his fights with high profile dream fights. That is fine, but if that is the case than Silva needs to relinquish the middleweight title. His camp can’t have it both ways.

At the end of the day this is all a real easy decision to make. Stop picking on the fighter that fights in a division below yours and take the fight against Jones. Unless Silva is that scared of getting KO’d by Bones, it is the only option. The fact they refuse to fight him and complain about lack of competition is the real joke.

Eric is the owner and editor-in-chief of the Camel Clutch Blog. Eric has worked in the pro wrestling industry since 1995 as a ring announcer in ECW and a commentator/host on television, PPV, and home video. Eric also hosted Pro Wrestling Radio on terrestrial radio from 1998-2009. Check out some of Eric's work on his IMDB bio and Wikipedia. Eric has an MBA from Temple University's Fox School of Business.

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